Ardrishaig – Argyll & Bute: Well worth A Stop

Ardrishaig is a small village well worth a stop if you are travelling along the coastal route down the Kintyre Way towards the Isle of Islay or Campbeltown.

Things To Do In Ardrishaig

Take a look at the Crinan Canal. Cycle or walk the 9 mile route.

The Things We Like

• Great please to stop and have a bike ride in the countryside along the Crinan Canal.
• Free parking places
• Good shops
• Toilets – Although they are 50p to use
• Coffee shop
• Charity shop

Places Nearby Worth A Visit

Invarary – You would normally travel through Invarary to get here unless you are coming via Oban

Tarbert – Stunning village with a nice selection of shops, a castle ruin and countryside walks.

Parking, Toilets, Coffee, Camping, Ferries and Other Tidbits

There is free parking in the village centre, plus a coffee shop, charity shop Morrisons daily and toilets all within 100 metres of the parking.

The Crinan Canal

The Crinan Canal is a very special canal that saves the yacht owners a considerable journey if they are travelling around the sea towards Crinan. We have a full write up about the Ardrishaig to Crinan Canal.

Ardrishaig has a rich history tied to its strategic location on Loch Gilp and the Crinan Canal. Here are some key points about the village’s history:

Origins and Early Development

• The name Ardrishaig derives from the Scottish Gaelic “Àird Driseig” meaning “height of the small bramble” or “promontory of the small bramble”.
• The village developed in association with the herring fishing industry and as the eastern terminus of the Crinan Canal, which was constructed between 1793-1801 and engineered by John Rennie.
• Ardrishaig’s harbor and first pier were built in 1873, facilitating steamboat connections with Oban and Glasgow.

19th Century Growth

• A distillery operated at Glendarroch between 1831 and 1937.
• Queen Victoria and Prince Albert landed in Ardrishaig on August 18, 1847, on their way from Inveraray to Ardverikie.
• The village’s population grew from 902 in 1861 to 1,209 by 1881 due to industries like fishing, forestry, and the canal traffic.

So in summary, Ardrishaig’s history is deeply intertwined with its coastal location, the Crinan Canal, fishing, and other maritime industries that drove its growth and development over the centuries

Images from Ardrishaig & the Crinan Canal